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While some high-school graduates go right to work, many students spend the following summer preparing for the next step in their academic lives. During this two- to three-month period, they must make final preparations to leave for college. For most, this will be the first time they’ve lived away from home other than a family vacation. It can be a scary time for many.

Some kids try to room with a friend from home to ease this transition. While this can be a good plan for some, it certainly holds back others. Instead of meeting new friends and expanding their horizons, they cling to the familiar. Although college students are bound to mature during this time away from their parents as they take on new responsibilities, this process may be slower than normal when they continue to rely on old friends for support and company.

On the other hand, rooming with a stranger that you simply can’t stand can be a nightmare. Most colleges require extenuating circumstances in order to change room assignments because they want students to learn to adapt and get along with others, especially when the other person is from a different background. In some cases, this plan works, and the two students become lifelong friends. When this happens, both people grow, mature, and become better people. If your child will be attending a school where they don’t know a soul, make sure they are aware that this may happen and that the best plan is to learn to be flexible.